>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center www.knightfoundation.org   to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no pops-up and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.

 

>>>> The Watchdog Report publisher for 16 years now, has reported back weekly on how your billions of public dollars in local government are being spent. And how to help support me providing this information is at the end of the WDR. And I hope you will consider keeping an independent news service out in our community, where what is going on with all our government entities is of critical benefit for both the public institutions but voters as well l. Thank You.

 

And to my Supporters I pledge to keep ‘going when you cannot.’ And we have about $9 billion in GOB funds being spent through a variety of institutions and that is no small number and in the past I have broken the story on Cuban refugees coming in droves and also the Oriental fruit fly quarantine and its huge economic impact to name just a few of the more recent stories in past WDR’s.

 

>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account at www.watchdogreport.net

>>>And you can now easily support the Watchdog Report by going to my new PayPal Button account, you know you want to do it at www.watchdogreport.net

 

However, because of fiscal issues I was barely able to publish this week as Miami continues to get more expensive. It is no easy task financially to do the WDR weekly. And years ago the county Ethics Commission did a report that suggested over the past decade some $50 million had been spent fighting waste fraud abuse and public corruption and having the press at public meetings (some very obscure) changes the tone of the meeting (and is why you don’t speed past a state trooper, if you’re smart) Further, I have tried to be an information electrolyte available to all free (and that is a problem) between these large public institutions when I first started back in 1997. And many public meetings back then were not being recorded except by me and that is no longer R the case.

 

For an accurate public record is key and diminishes legal action. For you either have an accurate public record or you don’t. And I hope you will consider helping me in this effort to keep the community informed and saving taxpayer monies in the process. For I need your help and Thank you for the past support over the last 17 years. And to read a national story and profile of the WDR publisher in the early years and background back in 2003 go to: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190341_1_ricker-school-board-president-miami-s-first-cuban-american

 

>>> And here is the story done by Miami New Times when they named the publisher as the community’s Best of Miami and Best Citizen and to read the story go to: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517

 

And the credibility I have established over that time of news you can trust without an attitude. And to help me in this quest to keep the community informed can easily be done since I know have PayPal at www.watchdogreport.net    and it accepts a host of credit cards and I hope you will consider supporting me allowing to have someone watch over how your public tax dollars are being spent. And few web blogs have the duration and community history as I have given in this effort and has people saying “you were blogging before we even knew what it was,” And I hope I get a decent response so I can get back to what I do best ‘go when you cannot,’ and the Watchdog Report will only return when my fiscal health is in better shape and to any of my past contributors. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. >>> May 5^th was my 17^th Anniversary, and I thank all my supporters and can’t believe it has been that long and hope you will help keep me in the field and reporting back how your public tax dollars are being spent.

 

>>> And checkout the new Watchdog Report merchandising campaign featuring Knowledge is Bliss coffee cups and includes premium cotton super soft tee shirts.at http://inkcampaigns.com/watchdog_report_store .    >>>

http://inkcampaigns.com/watchdog_report_store or go to

                           www.watchdogreport.net

 

>>> CORRECTION: In last week’s WDR I wrote that county mayoral candidate Raquel Regalado had a street named after her in the City of Miami. When in fact the street was named after her broadcaster mother of the same name. I apologize for this error.

 

ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the street

>>>> Community groups looking for siren call to get robust civic participation, Engage Miami and Emerge Miami make their case on WLRN Topical Currents

On WLRN Topical Currents www.wlrn.org hosted by Joseph Cooper and Bonnie Berman. Last week’s show featured two community leaders and activists and they discussed how to engage your local government leaders. The leaders were Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniela Levine Cava who represents District 8 on the 13 member body and has recently been pushing campaign finance reform legislation which will go to voters next year if the courts allow the language approved by the commission last week in a special commission meeting. And Levine Cava is a Yale University educated attorney was joined on the show by Sara Yousuf, a past Cook County public defender and the founder of Engage Miami also dedicated to increasing public and community participation. And both women are high energy in the public forum business and Levine Cava has brought a number of controversial yet common sense legislation during her time the office. Since her election to the body in 2012 after defeating incumbent Lynda Bell now running for congress in the GOP primary.

 

What about citizen activists and campaign funding reform at the County?

A special County commission meeting left last week unanimously approved campaign contribution reform legislation, after an endless debate but all commissioners who believed the legislation will be over ruled by the courts but proponents had gotten some 125,000 signatures on petitions and caused the commission heat after they failed to have quorum to approve canvassing the signatures costing around $1 to $2 million and why commissioners were hesitant at first. And were concerned about legal sufficiency, since the cost for this activity could. And state Rep.Joe Geller, D-Miami represented the petitioners and the legislation is moving forward and a discussion on Public campaign financing caused consternation for it would use public tax dollars to fund campaigns last seen in the county elections back in 2004 and had a number of candidates with critical audits by the County’s Ethics commission but because candidates were allowed to comingle the funds much of the money went unaccounted for and had one commission candidate back then had to pay a just under $10,000 fine. And it is for this reason commissioners are hesitant to open up this past can of worms and for more on the two community organizations Emerge and Engage Miami go to:

http://emergemiami.com/   http://www.engage.miami/team/

 

And for more on Yousef the veteran attorney and UM Law graduate and her many accomplishments go to:

http://www.law.miami.edu/news/2015/february/miami-law-alumna-seeks-social-change-through-law-music-entrepreneurship

 

What about Zika and who has an “open line to the White House,” says Mayor Carlos Gimenez?

County Mayor Carlos Gimenez at a Zika update meeting Friday with local leaders and included Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Aventura. And Gimenez said again that the county would appreciate the 34 municipalities helping to clean some of the 150,000 storm drains and has the county trying to do some 5,000 of them a day since these are serious mosquito breeding spots and need a special goo to kill them for “up to 30 days,” said Gimenez.

 

And tourist officials are asking gov. Rick Scott to initiate a major tourism global ad campaign, something done after Sept. 11 by then Gov. Jeb Bush and was very successful in getting the Florida tourism industry back on track and Scott should consider such a strategy for south Florida and the state overall for tourists have misunderstood that the risks of Zika are through the mosquito that transmits the disease. Even though the offending mosquito is called the “cockroach,” of the mosquito world but officials are fighting back hard with public health officials saying the virus will continue to be around but eradication has to be the watchword to limit and control any further outbreaks in the future.

GMCVB press release: FOR THE MONTHS OF JANUARY – JULY 2016, HOTEL ROOM OCCUPANCY IN GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES REACHED 79.4 PERCENT, ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION.

HOTEL ROOM ROOMS SOLD FOR THE SAME TIME PERIOD WERE UP +2.8 PERCENT COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME IN 2015, PARTIALLY ABSORBING THE 4.0 PERCENT INCREASE IN HOTEL ROOM INVENTORY YEAR ON YEAR.

DEMAND FOR TRAVEL TO GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES DURING JANUARY – JULY 2016 REMAINED STRONG RANKING #4 IN REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM (REVPAR), #4 IN AVERAGE DAILY ROOM RATE (ADR) AND #5 IN HOTEL ROOM OCCUPANCY AMONG THE TOP 25 U.S. MARKETS AS DEFINED BY SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH.

January – July 2016
Rooms Sold
January – July 2016	January – July 2015	% Change vs. 2015
8,879,629	8,637,545	+2.8%
Rooms Supply
January – July 2016	January – July 2015	% Change vs. 2015
53,205	51,208	+4.0%
Miami #4 – Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar)
January – July 2016	January – July 2015	% Change vs. 2015
$162.16	$167.46	-3.2%
Miami #4 – Average Daily Room Rate (ADR)
January – July 2016	January – July 2015	% Change vs. 2015
$212.07	$217.28	-2.4%
Miami #5 – Average Daily Occupancy
January – July 2016	January – July 2015	% Change vs. 2015
79.4%	80.3%	-1.1%

 

 

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/election/article98352157.html

 

And the GOP champion Donald trump continues to hurl insults at Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton but she continues to be dogged by her email controversy, and the Clinton Foundation donations and she fired back at Trump when he called her a ‘bigot’ for the policies she has promoted for African Americans and followed Trump’s comment to Black leaders “What do you have to lose?,” is not resonating with Black voters and has both candidates chomping at the bit to have debates that are expected to be quite a show predicts Trump whose platform to date has been thin on specifics. And that lack of preparedness could cause some unforgettable comments during the debates. But millennials are hesitant to support either candidate or their role in the crowded presidential race that includes some independent candidates who may draw off voters with that generation that has a strong no party-affiliation and libertarian philosophy with many of these younger emerging voters.

 

Celebrating 100 years of national parks: This month marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service — and Americans are celebrating at parks around the country. Part of this celebration is thanking the men and women who conserve these natural and cultural places. Here at the White House, we’re honoring a National Park Service that cares for a park a little closer to home — the White House grounds.

The National Park Service has been taking care of the White House grounds since the 1930s — all 18 acres of it — and many of these staff have served here for over 35 years.

Watch the National Park Service talk about what it’s like to work at the White House, and read their stories of service:

Don’t forget — national parks across America are free this weekend, so get outside and explore.

Happy 100th Anniversary, National Park Service!

 

>>> Past WDR: Vicky Leiva Garcia Toledo connection, they entertain blue chip power brokers to connect with mayor says Raphael in Miami Herald

With the mayoral race drawing to a potential close Aug 30, incumbent Mayor Carlos Gimenez is being dogged by his high profile campaign treasurer Rafael Garcia Toledo a lobbyist and a man about town formerly married to attorney Vicky Garcia Toledo and the power couple walk the halls and do business in county Hall and the City of Miami like it was their living room and she mingles with senior county staff periodically and her former husband Raphael (who on his lobbyist form lists all matters related to the county) has been getting some significant ink in the media. Since he historically drives the mayor to different election polling sites during the election for free. However, the man is slated to make millions in upcoming County Water and Sewer contracts and over the past years the Watchdog Report has warned Gimenez about this relationship with this man as being politically dangerous with the public and its perception. But the mayor just shrugs it off as no big deal and he just follows the contract process, he says. But the recent media reports highlight the mayor’s close ties with a number of lobbyist, and includes his attorney son CJ who periodically lobbies and the son lobbied for red light cameras at Miami city Hall along with state Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami a few years ago. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article88600672.html Editor’s note: I first flagged Garcia back in the early 2000s when he was trying to get a contract for the bleachers at the Crandon Park Tennis Center.

 

>>> Calls are going to voters by the Regalado camp asking why Gimenez is not supporting more Republican candidates running for different offices

I was called last week by a Regalado supporter and she carped that Mayoral Candidate Carlos Gimenez is not supporting other Republican candidates. Since the mayoral race is supposed to be nonpartisan, but over the past years that political neutrality many times falls by the wayside except for party primaries. But the mayoral race is coming to the wire and the charges are flying with Election Day Aug.30.

 

What did the mayor say about the County’s laid back Culture?

Back in 2011 when Gimenez was first elected mayor. The Watchdog Report asked him about the county’s laid back culture and how he would change it? He asked back “how do you eat an elephant?” “One bite at a time,” he surmised back then but for many residents the general perception is that County employees treat residents ‘like dogs,’ was one quote in The Miami Herald.

 

What is his challenger Raquel Regalado saying at community forums and she brings up Garcia Toledo and his son’s lobbying activities?

And Regalado brings up this close relationship at community gatherings and she notes that when she and Gimenez were at the Miami Herald for an interview. He refused to do it together and she asked, “what is he afraid of,” since she has been reluctant to debate but Regalado is still being dogged with personal finance issues and given the $7 billion county budget many question if she can run the county with 77 different revenue streams given her own personal issues that included a ‘messy’ divorce and an autistic child. And the former schoolboard member brought up the matter at a Rotary Club Meeting Luncheon held at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club and she told attendees that the County’s office of the “Inspector General,” was looking into the relationship she told attendees. As she tries to chip away at the bureaucrat’s management style and ‘cronyism’ when it comes to friends of the mayor getting contracts and has put Garcia Toledo smack into the middle of that controversy. Further last Friday I discovered the Spanish Radio and television host and personality has a street named after her just off Unity Avenue around 66^th street and I suspect it was authorized by the City of Miami given its location. And she joins a small select group of elected leaders with a street named after themselves and she joins state attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle with such a street designation while being in elected office.

 

What about a runoff?

And while Regalado lags in county polls with other candidates running she is hoping she can force a runoff since any winner has to get over 50 percent of the vote to win outright and there is a good chance she may force a runoff with her hard hitting campaign ads and she has “run nine campaigns,” she says, including her fathers and is a “winner” she says at campaign events like the luncheon.

 

>>>>Past WDR: Mayoral Candidate Regalado makes her cases in debate with incumbent mayor Gimenez, he claims, “You make stuff up,’ He charges in debate, clock is ticking how low will the campaigns go?

With only days before the Aug.30 Election Day challenger and early voting starting Monday Raquel Regalado,42, is amping up her campaign pitch( and here is her financial disclosure for the year http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/Forms/2015/234873-Form6.pdf ) and given her Spanish Radio shows she has a smooth and Natural oratory delivery and she claims her rival Mayor Carlos Gimenez (and here is his financial disclosure for the year http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/Forms/2015/97170-Form6.pdf) governs like the past Miami Fire and Rescue fighter he was at the City of Miami and he is only “proactive,” especially when it came to the Zika Virus and the hot zone in Wynwood.

 

She believes Gimenez should go to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and ask for money to cover the economic damages once the CDC, made the health warning and she claims Gimenez does not want federal monies and is why she said the County’s grant department was eliminated, she said to the lunch crowd attending the Coconut Grove Rotary club luncheon Thursday. And a campaign piece sent out by the Gimenez campaign criticizing Regalado’s attendance record (and she does attend the school board Audit and Budget Advisory Committee etc.) on the school board is off the mark she told the Watchdog report that the legislation cited was only “Proclamations,” and are ministerial and generally are done in the early part of school board meetings saying she has a “good attendance record,” and the campaign piece was misleading. And during the Putney show debate Gimenez repeatedly said to Regalado that some of her statements that “you just make stuff up,’   said the incumbent mayor, now termed out and former Miami Fire chief and Miami manager, who Regalado considers a professional bureaucrat and a creature of the county’s “pay to play,” culture and she believes if you are a friend of the mayor’s you will get his help she charges. And she debated Gimenez on Michal Putney’s show on WPLG for an hour on This “Week in South Florida,” and to see the debate go to http://www.local10.com/this-week-in-south-florida/this-week-in-south-florida-aug-7 and for more on the race go to

 

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article95513472.html

 

What about Zika and Mayor Gimenez trying to clean “5,000, storm drains a day countywide?”

Mayor Carlos Gimenez told county commissioners last week that when it comes to reducing standing bodies of water in streets. The county is trying to clean out some “5,000 drains a day,” he said, but he noted some are in the municipalities and since there are some “150,000, storm drains countywide,” this is no easy task and the county needs the cities help said Gimenez. And Regalado has been hammering the mayor that he should have been more proactive when it came to Zika and he responds that he had taken earlier action. But early voting starts Monday at a host of sites including Miami City Hall, the Coral Gables library and others around Miami Dade.

 

What about the WDR publisher’s health and what about the second surgery (that was cancelled Wednesday) and I hope to be back soon?

I am slowly coming back after I heal from a major infection of my right index finger’s tendon and had me in a hospital for some 18 days getting antibiotics IV and to be in a hospital for that long of a period gives one time to reflect on this unique and colorful community. And I thank all the readers wishing me well since then and continuing to support my efforts to keep the community informed while I have been on the sidelines but I continue to monitor our local public institutions via cable and other methods and should be back in full- form in a couple of months. If not sooner God willing. And I have another procedure on Wednesday and hope to be back in action soon.

 

>>>M-DC Homeless Trust gets new senior JHS member Esther Abolila, Greater Miami Chamber picks JHS CEO Migoya to fill their seat on trust and Abolila sits in for JHS president that has close collaboration with trust

And the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust has a new member from Jackson Health System (JHS) and senior staffer Esther Abolila is the new designated member representing Jackson health for CEO Carlos Migoya on the large board looking after the services provided to homeless residents and the next County homeless Census will be done on August 18.

 

>>> Trust soon to hear the trust’s HUD “appeal results,” in next few weeks, after federal funding was slashed in the NOFA process and the organizations “appeal,” was because of reduced HUD funding said Chair Ron Book at the monthly televised board meeting.

 

STATE OF FLORIDA

 

>>> State attorney Fernandez-Rundle office demurs on bribe claim of senate candidates Korge and Bullard, was only a proposed $25,000 campaign contribution

The State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle’s office in a close out memo has cleared whether state senate candidate Andrew Korge was trying to bribe Sen. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami to run in a different senate district after the 2010 redistricting process for dist.38 versus district 40. Since Korge believed district 38 previously held by former Sen. President Gwen Margolis, D- Aventura was believed to be more favorable to Korge whose high profile father Chris Korge who is a major fundraiser for the Democratic Party candidates and the son’s campaign is well financed and what Korge, in the report was suggesting to Bullard was a $25,000 campaign contribution and not a bribe as was asserted and to read the close out memo go to:

file:///C:/Users/DAN%20RICKER/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/IWMC2HUN/20160825163516926.pdf

 

>>> Gov. Scott Encourages Floridians to Apply for the Florida Constitution Revision Commission

Gov.Scott press release: Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Governor’s Office will begin accepting applications for the Florida Constitution Revision Commission. The 37 member Commission convenes every 20 years to review Florida’s Constitution and propose potential changes to be approved by Florida voters.

 

Governor Scott said, “Every 20 years, we are given the opportunity to review Florida’s Constitution to ensure that our laws are best serving the citizens of our state. The Constitution Revision Commission will serve on behalf of all Floridians, and appointees will learn firsthand what issues and potential changes are most important to our families in order to best make these impactful decisions. I encourage Floridians interested in serving on the Commission to apply today and I look forward to appointing qualified individuals who will represent our families and communities. “To view the appointment application from Governor Scott’s Office, click HERE. Of the 37 appointments to the Constitution Revision Commission, the Governor will appoint 15, the Florida Senate President will appoint nine, the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives will appoint nine, the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court will appoint three, and the Florida Attorney General will be automatically appointed. Appointments will be made no later than March 6^th, 2017.

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

>>> With surging demand from 6,100 homeless families, trust’s resources getting stretched thin countywide, wants revenues from Miami Beach, surfside and BAL Harbour to end homeless in Miami-Dade

The Miami-Dade Homeless Trust is having trouble with taking in all the homeless families in Miami-Dade. Some 6,100 homeless families are attending the public schools said the rep from the school district at the monthly board meeting and ( a $400,000 special disbursement of funding is running dry, said the trust chair and “resources are stretched dramatically,” said long time trust chair Ron Book when it comes to finding beds for a family of four using hotels and a room at some of the facilities cost the trust $55 a day said staff and while Lotus House is a facility bargain at “$22.00 a day, “ that cost is way under what Lotus House spends. Since these families with children need a host of social services and continuum of care that Lotus has to fiscally eat but the]rising number of homeless families in Miami is challenging the available resources said Lotus CEO Constance Collins to other trust members at the monthly televised trust meeting.

 

And Book said the only way the trust could end homeless a HUD directive is by including the food and beverage tax to the two municipalities excluded from the original state legislation and excludes Miami Beach, Surfside and BAL Harbour. But if the trust could get a resolution out of the county commission supporting these communities inclusion in the food and beverage tax revenues would be a major benefit to the cause of ending homeless in Miami-Dade. Editor’s note: School Supt. Alberto Carvalho was once homeless and said “no one should ever have to sleep on sidewalk,” and “look at the stars,” at night he has said in the past.

 

And the trust is doing its biannual census Aug.18. But this extra funding is key too finishing the job of taking any homeless off the street and Miami has a host of organizations helping and getting funding for this effort from Camillus House, to The Chapman Community Partnership to end Homeless are just a few but Miami continues to draw this population and given the community’s diverse population people are coming from all over the world to the global gateway that South Florida has become.

 

>>> What about the Children’s Trust and Children’s Savings accounts program that Commissioner Levine-Cava wants to promote public schools on board?

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniela Levine Cava had a presentation done at the Prosperity committee meeting on a new program to teach children financial literacy and the opening of Children’s Savings accounts. She noted the public schools district, The Children’s Trust have all been involved in this important skill that results in many of the participants attending a four year College or university and starts the saving habit early.

 

PAST WDR: What did FIU President Mark Rosenberg say to the Miami-Dade County Commission about China? CITIZEN’S PRESENTATION BY FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY’S PRESIDENT MARK B. ROSENBERG ON ”OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATION’

 

Incoming Greater Miami Chamber President Marc Rosenberg, Ph.D. the president of Florida International University (FIU) gave a passionate citizen’s presentation in front of the Miami-Dade Commission and the role the Peoples Republic of China is playing in South Florida and how he believes just as foods are from all parts of South America the community needs to foster the availability of great Asian cuisine if we are to effectively lure a greater number of Asian tourists and a direct flight from Miami is a must and Cathay Pacific is looking at a long distance aircraft for such a flight but is still up in the air. However FIU has an extensive presence in the Middle Kingdom including a school of hospitality in Tianjin and for more on FIU go to www.fiu.edu

 

>>> MD-C IG publishes 2015 annual report also keeps watch on public schools district,

The Miami-Dade County Office of the inspector General Mary Cagel has issued their 2015 annual report and the Watchdog agency created in 1997 amid numerous scandals also keeps watch of the public schools district and a host of county’s 25 departments including Jackson health system and to read the annual report go to http://www.miamidadeig.org/annualreports/2015AnnualReport.pdf
>>> GMCVB press release: During the month of June 2016, passengers through PortMiami increased by +17.9 percent compared to the same time last year. Growth is due in part to the addition of a new ship offering year-round service and the extensive cruise options offered by PortMiami.

PortMiami Passengers
June 2016	June 2015	% Change
351,261	297,956	+17.9%

 

RECORD ACCOMMODATIONS AND FOOD SERVICE JOBS IN GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES REPORTED FOR JULY 2016 MARKING 6 YEARS AND 7 MONTHS OF CONSECUTIVE JOB INCREASES
Greater Miami’s Accommodations and Food Service jobs increased +2.1 percent in July 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. This marks 6 years and 7 months of consecutive increased employment in Greater Miami’s Accommodations and Food Service Industry.

Record Greater Miami Accommodations and Food Service Jobs
July 2016	July 2015	% Change
121,300	118,800	+2.1

 

 

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

>>> Modesto “Mo” Abety working hard at the polls, rain or shine, so are some of his rivals, someone even wrote a campaign jingle for Mo!

Supt. Alberto Carvalho gave an extensive update of the District’s Parent Academy and had gotten the support of philanthropist Adrienne Arsht and had criticism the beginning but Carvalho says it was a major success in improving student performance.

 

And Issues also interviewed Sam Gill of Camillus and Zeka is discussed as well and to see go to http://wpbt2.typepad.com/issues/

 

>>> PAST WDR: “More district’s arrests are coming,” when it comes to Medicare fraud ring in District with $400 million self-insured health insurance program, money stolen from students and teachers, and thieves will be caught, says Carvalho.

 

Alberto Carvalho the superintendent of the nation’s fourth largest public schools district said the busting of a Medicare fraud ring is just the beginning,” and “more arrests,” are coming since the self-insured district has a $400 million health insurance program. And he said this money stolen is coming from the classrooms, students and teachers he asserted at Wednesday’s school board meeting. And the man vowed to use a, variety of law enforcement resources to root out this South Florida scourge.

 

>>> Child Advocate Modesto Abety throws hat into school board Dist. 6 race, for vacated seat held by Raquel Regalado running for county mayor

Child Advocate Modesto Abety filed to run for the school board District 6 seat vacated by Raquel Regalado and the man was the Children’s Trust of Miami Dade’s first CEO and is a solid candidate and worked at the county for years and is coming out of retirement for the race.

 

>>>> Facebook Post: Modesto Abety added 2 new photos — checked in to Miami-Dade County Elections Department.

June 24 at 5:10am · Miami, FL ·

 

Family, friends, and colleagues for children: it’s official! I have qualified as a Candidate for Miami Dade County School Board; District #6 (the seat that Raquel Regalado is vacating to run for Miami Dade Mayor). After a couple of fabulous years of retirement, I am so excited to get back to advocating for children, families, and community full time, and I am so looking forward to fighting for teachers… It goes without saying… Cause you know me: I’m in it, to win it! Only 60 days to the election. It will be fast and furious. More soon… And Abety recently got the Miami Herald endorsement over his rivals.

 

>>> Pets for Vets and Teaching Responsible Pet Ownership to Kids

Press release: County Commissioners have unanimously adopted two initiatives, sponsored by Commissioner Sosa, to better the lives of Miami-Dade County’s pets. In a move to help connect veterans with pets, Commissioner Sosa advanced legislation that waives adoption and spay/neuter fees for qualifying individuals. This new initiative is meant to give Miami-Dade County’s over 60,000 veterans of war greater access to the health benefits of pet ownership. Recent evidence suggests that bonding with animals greatly reduces stress and the effects associated with PTSD, a condition identified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as afflicting the veteran population.

Additionally, Commissioner Sosa filed legislation to expand the Responsible Pet Ownership Curriculum. The incredibly successful program, an initiative sponsored by Commissioner Sosa in 2013, now teaches over 89,000 elementary school students the principles of responsible pet ownership. This new measure seeks additional funding to bring the program to our community’s junior high and high school students.

“I truly believe that our veterans are this community’s greatest source of pride, and I know that they will give our pets warm and loving homes,” said Commissioner Sosa. “We are forever indebted to them for their service and protection of our freedoms.” Continued Commissioner Sosa, “In 2013 when I sponsored the initiative to teach our children the importance of responsible pet ownership I could never have imagined just how great the program would have turned out. It is my hope that we can grow the program to our older students, who can play a larger role in saving animals.”

Pets for Vets legislation: http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/legistarfiles/Matters/Y2016/160987.pdf

Responsible Pet Ownership Curriculum Expansion legislation:

http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/legistarfiles/Matters/Y2016/160987.pdf

>>>> Here is the office of the inspector general’s annual report for the nation’s fourth largest public schools district

http://www.miamidadeig.org/2015MDCPS/SB%20ANNUAL%202015%20WEBSITE%20version.pdf and when it comes to oversight there are a number of mechanisms JASCONhttp://www.miamidadeig.org/2015MDCPS/SB%20ANNUAL%202015%20WEBSITE%20version.pdf

 

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

>>> New public school student’s art greets patients and brightens walls of Jackson South Community Hospital, CEO Migoya says future surpluses hard to have in future

Public Health Trust Chair Joe Arriola gave a shout out at the televised monthly meeting to media executive Mathew Pinzer who prior to joining had once been a Miami Herald reporter covering the county but was recruited to the trust a few years back and Arriola had asked Pinzer an Emory University graduate to find some suitable art work for

Jackson South’s Community Hospital walls and Arriola commended him for getting the fine art work from local public schools children attending an Art’s academy and similar student art work is seen on the walls of the school board lobby and the work is impressive and Pinzer gets a Tip of the Hat for a job well done.

 

Further, PHT President Carlos Migoya said with federal financial reimbursement levels diminishing past surpluses by the trust will be more difficult to achieve and why the public hospital is embarking on a massive upgrade of the campus and new Out Patient clinics throughout the County looking to provide more primary care and patient volume in the competitive and changing healthcare world.

 

>>> AOA agreement with U university of Miami Miller Medical School gets heated over non-exclusive transplant agreement,

PAST WDR: Calm voices and restrained tempers need to prevail at PHT board meetings these meetings cannot go back to old days when a major security presence was necessary. After CEO Ira Clark was replaced and there were contentious meetings and one was so packed that there was extensive security. And in this case there was a hot exchange between a UM physician and the PHT board Chair Joe Arriola who is known for his temper but this is a public setting where decorum is a must because in the past some of those meetings erupted into shouting and in that case back then racial undertones

 

CITY OF MIAMI

>>> Mayoral candidate Regalado campaign sign racking up code violation fines, on old Senior Frog’s building, how low will mayoral race go to Election Day?

The giant campaign political sign supporting Raquel Regalado on the old Senior Frog restaurant on Historic Main Highway next to the Coconut Grove Playhouse is racking up code violation fines with the city of Miami and the owner of the building is a longtime friend of Mayor Tomas Regalado says one knowledgeable source. And it is hard to miss as the race winds down and voters will see how low the campaigns go in the coming days.

 

>>> Since June 1^st has passed I asked for the financial- disclosure forms for Mayor Tomas Regalado and Commissioners Francis Suarez, Ken Russell Frank Carollo and Wilfredo Gort, Keon Hardeman. And next week I will review these reports.

>>> Press release: Governor Rick Scott Appoints Three to Miami River Commission Policy Committee

Rick Scott announced one appointment and two reappointments to the Miami River Commission Policy Committee.

Horacio S. Aguirre, 65, of Miami, is the president and principal of H.S. Aguirre & Associates, Inc. He is reappointed for a term beginning August 11, 2016, and ending July 1, 2019.

Patricia Harris, 73, of West Miami, is a former legal assistant with twenty three years of experience. She is reappointed for a term beginning August 11, 2016, and ending July 1, 2019.
Luis Garcia, 45, of Miami, is the owner and operator of Garcia’s Seafood Grill and Fish Market. He succeeds James and is appointed for a term beginning August 11, 2016, and ending July 1, 2019.

 

Tomorrow (Friday, June 3), an information session will be held at 2pm in the Miami Beach City Hall 4th Floor (City Manager’s Large Conference Room), to discuss a Sustainability. The City of Miami Sea Level Rise Committee Last but not least, the FIU School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) is proud to present work done by undergraduate students in a recent Spring Visual Storytelling course that contributed to the FIU Digital Commons, by curating research, storytelling, art, and communication related to work on sea level rise conducted by FIU faculty, students, and staff. Their project is titled, “Submerging the Sunshine: Explore Sea Level Rise in South Florida” and categorizes stories of rising seas into four main narratives that highlight FIU’s work on this pressing issue.

 

Some of the media captured, digitized, and archived for this project includes what’s been published on eyesontherise.org and work conducted in other units at FIU. Students in this course were introduced to cultural themes of visual communication, museums, and libraries. Through practical application and collaboration, they created digital narratives, using the content that is already in – and that was added to – the collections to make the archives approachable and sharable for wider audiences.

But they are not done, and THEY NEED YOU:

 

As you can see, there are several units represented, but a lot may be missing. Please help to promote this project for its potential for interdisciplinary curricular integration, and feel free to contribute work to this collection, which can be as easy as emailing a PDF, URL, or other file (even if some things aren’t captured, they can help with that, too)! Contact Jamie Rogers (rogersj@fiu.edu) or Dr. Robert Gutsche Jr. (rgutsche@fiu.edu) for more information, or to add the work of your units or recommend others.

As always, you can visit our SLSC website for more info, or email us (slsc@fiu.edu) with any questions and/or recommendations for other events to include. Thank you,

Brad Schonhoff

Communications Coordinator

 

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/11/francis-suarez-sworn-into-office-makes-case-for-new-miami.html an here is a video of Miami PD doing the running man challenge very funny especially the end and has 179,000 views as of last week.https://twitter.com/wsvn/status/731197152110616576

City of Sweetwater’s running man video totally different from the one in MIAMI and has certain City of Sweetwater edge to but it’s a must see it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t9M2zTxtfI

 

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH

>>> Press release: Miami Beach Enforces All Prevention Measures – Miami Beach asking residents and businesses to do their part to reduce mosquitoes —

Miami Beach, FL – City officials continue taking all necessary steps to ensure effective and efficient elimination of mosquitoes in the Miami Beach area, including having Code Compliance Officers scour the city to determine and rectify potential risks.
“The city’s public works and sanitation crews have been on overdrive with addressing standing water on the public right-of-way, and we’re also doing our part to make sure the community is stepping up their game with the threat of Zika,” said Code Compliance Manager Sarah Saunders. “Our team is working tirelessly to ensure all business and property owners are complying with ensuring no standing water.”

 

If code inspectors determine that visible conditions within private property are an immediate threat to healthy, safety or welfare of the public, he/she may order the immediate correction of the violation at the expense of the occupant, owner, or operator. This violation, known as forthwith, carries a fine of $1,000 for the first offense and $2,000 per each additional infraction.

 

Since the beginning of June, crews have dispersed standing water on streets if it has been stagnant for more than 24 hours. Where a significant volume of water is involved, it is being vacuumed out or treated with an environmentally-friendly larvicide. All showers along the beach walk have standing water removed on a daily basis in the early morning hours, and crews inspect alleyways on a daily basis to remove any litter or illegally dumped waste, which could be a potential breeding ground.

 

As of January, all catch basins in stormwater drains have been either pumped out to eliminate standing water, or using larvicide where standing water could not be removed or prevented.

 

At pump stations, the set points on the floats have been adjusted to circulate the water; in addition to having larvicide placed in the wet wells. This year, the City of Miami Beach has invested over one million dollars in vacuum trucks to improve cleanliness of the system.

 

City irrigation systems have also been adjusted to not activate if there has been a recent rain event, and broken irrigation line repairs have been prioritized. At city facilities, larvicide has been introduced into any dumpsters or containers holding water.  All other items collecting rain water have been removed or eliminated.

 

“All City of Miami Beach employees, working indoors and outdoors, have been provided with mosquito repellent,” added Morales. “We strongly encourage all businesses on this urban-island to take the same precautions with their employees.”

 

COMMUNITY EVENTS

>>> Press release: FFCR’s Claws for Kids Luncheon is an annual tradition! Whether you’re a regular or have never been before, don’t miss out. Mark your calendar and keep your claws ready to grab a ticket! In the meantime, check out these pics from last year’s event.

Save the Date! Online Ticket Sales Opening Soon! Sponsorship Packages Available!

Please contact Candice Maze at cmaze@fostercarereview.org or 305.679.2735 for more information or to inquire about Sponsorship packages.

 

http://www.margulieswarehouse.com/index.php#/exhibitions

>>> And the Margulies Warehouse will be closing the season in weeks and to see what art is on display and when it plans to close the season for this community treasure go to http://www.margulieswarehouse.com/#/home

 

CITY of Sweetwater https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t9M2zTxtfIery funny

Running Man challenge https://www.facebook.com/steven.miro.50?fref=pymk

 

 

EDITORIALS

 

>>> Now what? Will you at least vote? “Reset & “Pivot” should be banned from campaign speeches, just be honest and tell the truth

 

Public officials should banish the term “pivot,” and “reset,” and just tell voters the truth and be honest about their positions and this verbal fluff is not what voters want to hear. Instead honest and clear plans will get candidates what they want to be elected. And while I have been going by early polling sites from the West Dade regional Library site this past week candidate turnout at the polls is surprisingly low in comparison to past years where candidates stood in the rain talking to voters but that is a rare sight today. And that is a shame for this is a test of commitment to elected office and every candidate needs to experience this process. For it makes them a better person and voters now have their chance to help their community. And once again the Watchdog Report asks, NOW what? You did not run yourself, will you at least vote?

 

>>> Public institutions Collaboration must be our goal if South Florida to reach its greatness

 

Collaboration should be Miami-Dade’s watchword for we are too big with too many challenges and collaboration was one of the main topics at the Greater Miami Chamber’s Goal conference and with FIU President Mark Rosenberg, Ph.D. being chair of the Chamber. South Florida has never been a better position to leverage the academic excellence from the local public institution and not to go it alone and our other public institutions need to work together, like the Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade did recently and helped create some over 3,000 summer jobs with the assistance of the county and public schools district but with the limited resources it is important every tax dollar is used effectively and tax payers are getting there, money worth of these precious and scarce money. And this working together includes the 34 municipalities that many times signore what tis the common good an generally just produces more traffic and chaos since from the homeless population to many other issues there are no boundaries and what happens in one part of Miami-Dade impacts somewhere else for our 1.6 million residents are essentially on a ship and we have to learn to for our public institutions to learn and work together. If we are to attain the greatness South Florida can be while maintaining our environment. >>> And is one of the recommendations on an economic prosperity report done by FIU and is at www.FIU.edu

 

>>> Congrats to Miami Herald for runner –up Pulitzer for investigative story ‘License to Launder,’ highlights how critical investigative stories are to a community

 

The Miami Herald being a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize highlights the importance of in depth investigative reporting and while the Watchdog Report has not reached that depth over the past 16 years I have put a light to many government activates from Jackson Hospital to the city of Miami that once went through 10 mangers in a few months and arrests were becoming rampant. And back in 1998 it looked bleak an someone from the public needed to step forward especially after a major political operative said to me “You little people we are going to crush you,” and I thought the public needed someone to look after their interests and the introduction of the internet gave me that opportunity as well as being an editorial and news columnist for The Miami Herald an experience that cannot be described unless you experienced it and here we are today and May 5, 2016 will be my anniversary and hope with my readers help to continue on but I do need financial help and to read what the early years were like go to and I know your hard earned money is sacred. I hope you will honor me with your trust news you can trust without the attitude and my best to all my friends who have supported me. And to read a national story on the early years go to: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog
>>> One of Watchdog Report’s main missions is to keep watch on all the host of Trust’s in Miami-Dade and these organizations involve some serious public money in the billions

 

Residents in Miami-Dade County periodically ask why I cover all the trust’s found in the county, from the Children’s Trust to the Public Health Trust to the County’s Homeless Trust and it is because elected county leaders are always looking for new funds and while the raids of these public dollars periodically occurs like in the case of the Citizens Independent Transit Trust where the county is slowly paying back the sales tax dollars absorbed by the county’s transit system in what was called “unification,” by county leaders

 

But the Public Health Trust was also raided back in 20002 when county commissioners shifted some $ 70 million in unfunded mandates on to organization and that cost has risen to over $100 million a year and was one of the reasons the Public health trust needed a $830 million GOB passed overwhelmingly by voters a few Years back to upgrade its infrastructure and ageing main campus

 

After this past money was diverted over a decade by the County commission that does provide some $250 million in public funds for a maintenance of effort contribution. But in Miami-Dade where everything is political. I keep watch so that these organizations are kept whole and politics is kept to a minimum and this oversight helps keep the organizations on the straight and narrow when it comes to public dollars and it is no small amount of money and helps explain why there have been so few scandals in the past that plagued the county back in the 1990’s and was a frequent topic in the media.

 

LETTERS

 

>>> A Reader on danger of yellow pole barriers on 195, and sign petition asking FDOT to modify polls https://www.change.org/p/florida-department-of-transportation-change-i95-plastic-poles-to-unable-movement-in-and-out-of-the-express-lanes

 

>>> Great story on the Pets’ Trust.  I’d love to speak with you and tell you more.  You are right…..it will be an issue in the Mayor’s race.  

Please watch this…      Pets’ Trust…the Story    password is     movie

And read this……..  http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/joe-cardona/article2087823.html

 

Michael Rosenberg

President Pets’ Trust

Rita Schwartz Cofounder

 

>>> And another reader sent the following the shocking truth about Miami-Dade Animal Services, http://www.animalliberationfront.com/ALFront/Actions-USA/MiamiAnimalServices.htm http://www.examiner.com/article/questions-about-fatal-mauling-by-group-of-dogs-miami-dade-county

 

DR

Coconut Grove

 

>>> The Watchdog Report is Celebrating 17 years of weekly publishing since May 5^th 2000 and when I started back then I never thought I would be doing this so

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog. And while I have taken a licking over the years including some medical issues I have kept at the job thanks to my supporters who I thank so very much over the many years. And the community’s public institutions are better when it comes to them knowing what the other is doing and why I have tried to be an information electrolyte for these giant institution’s leaders and things and here is a national story done on why I started to watch government back in 2000 http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog and to all the people along the way that have helped me I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

 

Publisher’s Statement on the mission of the Watchdog Report and the special people and organizations that make it possible:  Government Subscribers/Corporate Subscribers/Sustaining Sponsors/Supporting Sponsors

 

***** LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & Initial sponsors since 2000

 

>>> LIFETIME FOUNDING MEMBERS & INITIAL SPONSORS IN 2000

ANGEL ESPINOSA – (Deceased) owner COCONUT GROVE DRY CLEANER’S

HUGH CULVERHOUSE, Jr

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT www.fpl.com .

THE MIAMI HERALD www.miamiherald.com (2000-2008)

ARTHUR HERTZ

WILLIAM HUGGETT, Seamen Attorney (Deceased)

ALFRED NOVAK

LINDA E. RICKER (Deceased)

JOHN S. and JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION www.knightfoundation.org

THE HONORABLE STANLEY G. TATE

 

>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $2,000 a year

 

Mr. NORMAN BRAMAN http://www.bramanmotorcars.com/dealership/normanbraman.htm

BADIA SPICES www.badiaspices.com

RONALD HALL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.miamidade.gov

UNITED WAY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY www.unitedwaymiamidade.org

 

>>> Watchdog Report supporters – $1,000 to $5,000 a year

 

COLSON HICKS EIDSON, PA www.colson.com

Badia Spices www.badiaspices.com

BERKOWITZ POLLACK BRANT Advisors and Accountants www.bpbcpa.com

JEFFREY L. BERKOWITZ TRUST

RON BOOK

LINDA MURPHY: Gave a new laptop in Oct. 2001 to keep me going.

WILLIAM PALMER www.shutts.com

Rbb PUBLIC RELATIONS www.rbbpr.com

ROYAL MEDIA PARTNERS www.royalmp.com

SHUBIN & BASS www.shubinbass.com

WILLIAMSOM AUTOMOTIVE GROUP http://williamsonautomotivegroup.com/

 

>>> Public, Educational & Social institutions – subscribers at $1,000 or less

 

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC. www.camillushouse.org

CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIR www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ETHICS & PUBLIC TRUST COMMISSION

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST: www.miamidade.gov/homeless/

MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL www.miamidade.gov/ig

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPT. http://superintendent.dadeschools.net/

MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org

THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

THE GOOD GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE http://goodgov.net/

THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES www.mdclc.org

THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

 

>>> Public, Educational & Social institutions – subscribers at $1,000 or less

CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC. www.camillushouse.org

CITY OF MIAMI www.miamigov.com.

CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.coralgables.com

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov

CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS www.chapmanpartnership.org

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.fiu.edu

THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov

GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.miamichamber.com

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU www.miamiandbeaches.com

HEALTH FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.hfsf.org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIR www.miamidade.gov

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST: www.miamidade.gov/homeless/

MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE www.mdc.edu

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION ON ETHICS and PUBLIC TRUST www.ethics.miamidade.gov  

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL www.miamidade.gov/ig

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschools.net

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPT. http://superintendent.dadeschools.net/

MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY www.miamidda.com

PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST & JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM www.jhsmiami.org

THE BEACON COUNCIL www.beaconcouncil.com

THE CHILDREN’S TRUST www.thechildrenstrust.org

THE GOOD GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE http://goodgov.net/

THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES www.mdclc.org

THE MIAMI FOUNDATION www.miamifoundation.org

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI www.miami.edu

 

>>> Publisher’s Statement on the mission of the Watchdog Report and the special people and organizations that make it possible:  Government Subscribers/Corporate Subscribers/Sustaining Sponsors/Supporting Sponsors the Watchdog Report covers a few of the meetings attended weekly. It remains my belief that an informed public will make better decisions. Therefore, I go to meetings, make the presence of an informed citizen known, and bring the information to you.   The Watchdog Report is in the fourth year of publication and it has been an honor to be able to send this information to you. It is sent to readers in Miami-Dade, Florida, the U.S. and the world. The Watchdog Report is sent to thousands free and while readers have been prodded to subscribe the results have been mixed. Over 250 reports and Extras have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events.  The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain. I welcome letters via e-mail. Letters may be edited for length or clarity and must refer to material published in the Watchdog Report.  Please see address and contact information. Please send any additions and corrections by e-mail, fax or snail mail. All corrections will be published in the next Watchdog Report. If you or your organization would like to publish the contents of this newsletter, please contact me. Please send your request to watchdogreport1@earthlink.net

 

Daniel A. Ricker

Publisher & Editor

Watchdog Report

Est. 05.05.00

Copyright © of original material, 2016, Daniel A. Ricker

 

>>> The Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel & Sun-Sentinel articles on the Watchdog Report publisher over the years.

 

Published on September 9, 1999, Page 1EA, Miami Herald, the (FL)

CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS

 

Published on January 3, 2000, Page 1B, Miami Herald, the (FL)

MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED

 

Published on January 20, 2003, Page 1E, Orlando Sentinel, PAPERWORK TIGER, Miami’s citizen watchdog piles up government files in his quest to keep the “little people” informed. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-20/news/0301190045_1_ricker-miami-watchdog

 

>>>Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times

 

The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored.  Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517

>>>General subscriber’s names will not be published in the Report. To subscribe to the Watchdog Report please use the form below as a subscription invoice 

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